Unlocking the Heart’s Secrets: Why a Coronary Calcium Score Could Save Your Life
Dr. Lyday saving hearts all over the world with functional root cause medicine
When it comes to heart health, prevention is everything. Most heart attacks are sudden, and often the first sign of heart disease is the heart attack itself. But what if there was a way to see into the future of your heart — to get a sneak peek at your risk long before symptoms ever appear? That’s exactly what a Coronary Calcium Score (CCS) offers, and it’s one of the most valuable tools in functional medicine for catching early cardiovascular risk.
What Is a Coronary Calcium Score?
A Coronary Calcium Score is a low-dose CT scan of the heart that measures the amount of calcified plaque in your coronary arteries — the vessels that supply blood to your heart muscle. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the blood. Over time, it can harden, narrow the arteries, and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
The scan is non-invasive, quick (usually under 10 minutes), and doesn’t require contrast or IVs. The result? A score that reflects the total amount of calcium in your coronary arteries.
Why We Want It
Think of your coronary calcium score as a crystal ball for your cardiovascular future. A score of zero means no detectable plaque and a very low risk of heart attack in the near future. A higher score (especially over 100 or 400) means more plaque and a higher chance of cardiovascular events.
This scan helps us understand your true risk — even if your cholesterol levels are “normal.” It can identify silent inflammation, oxidized cholesterol, and early atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) before any symptoms arise.
Who Should Consider Getting a CCS?
Men over 40 and women over 50
Anyone with a family history of early heart disease
Individuals with elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes
Those with a history of smoking or obesity
Anyone who wants a clear picture of their cardiac risk, especially when weighing whether or not to take statins or other medications
Value vs. Cost: A No-Brainer
The CCS scan typically costs $49–$200 — a small investment considering that most chest CTs can cost upwards of $2000. The value it provides in terms of preventative insight and empowering decision-making is enormous.
In many cases, a single scan can help avoid years of unnecessary medication, or conversely, help a patient understand the urgency of making serious lifestyle changes.
What About Cholesterol? Enter the NMR Lipid Panel
While traditional cholesterol panels measure total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides, they don’t give us the full story. This is where the NMR Lipid Panel comes in. It provides a much deeper look at the number and size of LDL and HDL particles — and this matters, because not all LDL is created equal.
Small, dense LDL particles are much more inflammatory and likely to get stuck in arterial walls, leading to plaque buildup and atherosclerosis. Large, fluffy LDL particles? Not so much.
By combining your coronary calcium score with an NMR Lipid Panel, we can:
Assess the true risk of heart disease
Identify inflammatory patterns
Understand if your cholesterol is actually dangerous — or falsely elevated
Tailor a personalized lifestyle, supplement, and treatment plan to reduce your risk
Can We Lower Coronary Calcium Naturally?
Yes — and this is where functional medicine shines. While conventional cardiology often turns to statins to lower cholesterol and theoretically reduce plaque, we focus on removing the root causes and improving your body’s ability to clear inflammation and calcification.
Here are some proven strategies:
1. IV Phosphatidylcholine (IV PC)
IV PC is a powerful therapy that helps repair cell membranes, emulsify fats, and remove fatty deposits from the arteries. It’s especially helpful for breaking down oxidized LDL and improving vascular flexibility. Over time, it can contribute to plaque stabilization and reverse vascular aging.
2. IV EDTA Chelation Therapy
EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid) is a chelating agent that binds to calcium and heavy metals in the bloodstream, helping to gently remove calcifications from arteries and soft tissues. It’s been used for decades in the integrative medicine world and has shown promising results in reducing cardiovascular events, especially in people with diabetes or known atherosclerosis.
3. Nutraceutical Support
Vitamin K2 (MK-7): Helps shuttle calcium away from arteries and into bones, where it belongs.
Magnesium: Helps balance calcium and prevent inappropriate calcification.
CoQ10, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants like vitamin C and resveratrol support mitochondrial and endothelial health. AND SO MUCH MORE…
4. Anti-inflammatory Lifestyle
A diet rich in whole foods, healthy fats, leafy greens, and minimal processed sugars can dramatically lower vascular inflammation — a key driver of plaque buildup.
5. Root Cause Medicine
We address underlying drivers of calcification, such as:
Insulin resistance
Chronic infections
Mold toxicity
Heavy metal burden
Autoimmunity or leaky gut
Functional Medicine Is Proactive Medicine
At our clinic, we believe in getting ahead of disease. The coronary calcium score and NMR lipid panel are two of the most powerful tools we have for early detection and targeted prevention. Combine that with root-cause therapies like IV PC and EDTA, and we have the tools to not only slow down arterial plaque — but reverse it.
Take the Next Step — Protect Your Heart Today
Don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Book an appointment with me today to discuss your heart health and order these crucial screening tests. We’ll go over your calcium score, NMR lipid profile, and explore a functional, non-pharmaceutical approach to lowering your risk and reclaiming your cardiovascular vitality.
👉 https://patientthelydaycenter.md-hq.com/
Take a look at my video on my coronary calcium score that I had done today and why I think it is super important for all:
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